Running Exe File from CMD using VBA Excel

Question

I am trying to run a cmd line from VBA. The command line calls a createReport.exe which creates a final CSV output file using Inputfile.csv

This is what I run manually from Command prompt window:

cd C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder (hits enter)

createReport.exe -in=C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\Inputfile.csv (hits enter)

When I run manually, it takes around 45 seconds to create final CSV output file.

When I run the same thing from VBA code, the screen says "starting the query step" and it stays on for 30 seconds, closes and doesn't create the final CSV output file.

Sub RunReport()
Application.DisplayAlerts = False

Dim strProgramName As String
Dim strArgument As String    
    
    strProgramName = "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\createReport.exe"
    strArgument = "-in=C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\Inputfile.csv"

    Call Shell("""" & strProgramName & """ """ & strArgument & """", vbMaximizedFocus)

Application.DisplayAlerts = True

End Sub

Dominique · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-21 13:03:38Z

3

I believe you first need to do a ChDir before calling the Shell() command, something like:

ChDir "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder"
Call Shell("""" & strProgramName ...

answered Apr 21, 2022 at 13:03

Dominique

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3 Comments

MRBasun Over a year ago

So, will it be something like this ? Dim strProgramName As String Dim strArgument As String ChDir "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder" strProgramName = "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\createReport.exe" strArgument = "-in=C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\Inputfile.csv" Call Shell("""" & strProgramName & """ """ & strArgument & """", vbMaximizedFocus)

Dominique Over a year ago

No, there's no chDir in your code.

MRBasun Over a year ago

That is so awesome. Thanks Dominique. I added exactly what you said and it spit out the output csv. This was my first time using VBA for cmd line. It worked now. Dim strProgramName As String Dim strArgument As String strProgramName = "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\createReport.exe" strArgument = "-in=C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder\Inputfile.csv" ChDir "C:\Users\user123\Desktop\MyReport_folder" Call Shell("""" & strProgramName & """ """ & strArgument & """", vbMaximizedFocus)

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